Light fixture



Jan. 26, 1965 E. s. WILDE 3,167,258

LIGHT FIXTURE Filed May 23. 1961 INVENTOR. EARL G. WILDE ATTORNEY inFIGURE 1.

United States Patent 3,167,258 LIGHT FIXTURE Earl G. Wilde, 2518 29 /2St, Rock Island, Ill. Filed May 23, 1961, Ser. No. 112,052 9 Claims.(Cl. 240-413) This invention relates to a light fixture and moreparticularly to a fixture adapted for having mounted therein a bulb orlamp capable of generating intense heat.

Heretofore lamp fixtures of this type have been permanently adjustedrelative to proper focusing in relation to the reflectors at the factoryor place of manufacture. In some fixtures there has been provision foradjustment adjacent the connectors or sockets which hold the lamps orbulbs. However, adjustment inside the fixture or fixture casing createscertain problems due primarily to the intense heat generated by thebulb. If the light has been burning, it must be shut down for a periodso that the fixture becomes cool enough to prevent burns or discomfortto the maintenance man. With the light shut off, there is lacking thefeature or advantage of being able to adjust the lamp while havingvisual inspection of its beam. In other words, the light must be shutdown and the lamp adjusted. The light is then turned on and if theresult is not satisfactory it must be again shut down and the lampsadjusted. In many instances the switch is at a distant point.Consequently adjustment is either a two man job or it may be done by oneman who must move between the switch and light each time the lamp isadjusted. Since the fixture is normally in high location, this creates arelatively serious problem.

It is therefor one of the main objects of this invention to provideadjustment structure on the fixture by which adjustment may occur whilethe light is burning and without being subject to the intense heat ofthe bulb and reflectors.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lamp fixtureof a unique and novel nature which is com pletely sealed againstmoisture and foreign particles and yet may be adjustable and openedwithout injury to the sealing elements of the fixture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention isbetter understood from the following disclosure and as shown in theaccompanying drawings. FIGURE 1 is a front and side perspective view ofthe entire lamp incorporating the structure of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the lamp shown FIGURE 3 is afront view of the lamp with portions broken away to show interiorstructure and showing a portion of the lens door in the open position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along theline 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view taken at the corner of the lens shown at 7in FIGURE 3 and showing a portion of the gasket in section.

Referring now to the drawings, the lamp itself is composed in itspreferred form of a cast aluminum casing 10 with a parabolic rear wall11 and end walls, one of which is indicated at 12. The casing normallyopens forwardly. The' casing 10 is supported from underneath by means ofa two-piece knuckle joint 13 composed of one part 14 integral with thecasing 10 and a second part 15 having a depending hollow section 16threaded on the outside for ice mounting on a support, not shown. Wires18 extend through the knuckle joint 13. The two parts 14, 15 areconnected by a bolt and nut combination 6 which may be loosened topermit tilting of the lamp at the desired inclination. A gasket 17 ispositioned between the parts 14, 15.

The casing 10 has an outwardly projecting rectangular flange 19 with aforwardly facing peripheral edge 20 and a peripheral shoulder or ledge21 just rearward of and inward of the edge 20.

The casing 10 has a series of internal ribs 22 projecting inwardly fromthe internal surface of the wall 11. The ribs 22 extend completelyaround the surface of the wall 11 and terminate at the shoulder 21. Ahighly polished U-shaped or, to be more exact, a parabolic shapedreflector panel 25 is positioned on the ribs 22. The ribs 22 are tappedat 28 to receive tap screws 26 which fix the panel 25 thereto. The ribs22 are sufficiently close together that they provide adequate supportfor the panel. The ribs 22 also serve as a means for dissipating theintense heat of the lamp since they provide a layer of air between thereflector panel 25 and the casing wall 11.

The end walls 12 are also provided with internal reenforcing ribs, suchas at 27, which extend from the casing wall 11 to the shoulder 21. r Theribs 27 are suitably tapped to receive screws 29 which hold endreflector panels 30, 31. The panels 38, 31 have parabolic edgesconforming to and lying against the internal surface of the reflectorpanel 25. The panels 30, 31 are also highly polished to reflect light.The outer edges of the end panels 3%, 31 are flanged or formedoutwardly, at 32, to have offset portions lying adjacent the ends of theribs 27 which receive the aforementioned screws 29. The end panels 3%,31 are provided with circular openings 34, 35 through which oppositeends of a highly concentrated incandescent quartz lamp or bulb 36 mayextend. The openings 34, 35 are sufliciently large to accommodateadjustment of the lamp relative to the casing 10 or reflector panel 25.

Highly critical in operation of the quartz type lamp is its properpositioning relative to the reflector panel 25.

Normally the positioning is done very accurately at the factory. Thebulb is normally positioned substantially in the focus axis of the panel25. However, due to handling and shipping the bulb is often received outof proper focus in respect to the reflector. Consequently there isprovided adjusting means in the casing structure itself which permitsminute positioning of the bulb or lamp 36.

Opposite ends of the bulb 36 extend into sockets or connectors 40, 41,each having bulb receiving means. Since the connectors 40, 41 and theirsupporting structure are identical, details thereof will be limited tothat adjacent the end panel 30 and in respect'to the connector 40. Castintergally with the casing end wall 12 are a pair of parallel spacedapart ribs or tracks 42, 43 which extend fore and aft toward the openend of the casing 10. Positioned between the tracks 42, 43 is a U-shapedbracket 44 with inner and outer leg portions 45, 46 having oppositeedges contacting and adapted for sliding relation with the tracks 42,43. The bracket 44 also has a bight portion 47 facing the end deflector30 and has an opening 48 therein through which the end of the connector40 may extend. The connector 40 has a rigid flange 49 lying against thebight portion 47 and connected thereto by screws 50. As is obvious, theconnector 40 faces the respective opening 34 in the reflector panel 30.

The leg portion 45 is tapped to receive an adjusting element in the formof a set screw 55, the shank of which extends'throu'gh the casingwall ll'adja'cent the rearmost extremity thereof. The casing 11' is'countersunk at 56 'to receive the screw' head. Surrounding the screw 55,and extending between the casing wall 11 and bracket leg 45 is a c'oilspring :57 which'normally' biases the bracket 44'and connector 40outwardly toward the open side of the casing. The'screw 55 is providedwith a'suitable wrench receivingfmeans or head to permit What isclaimed-is i i l. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing including aforwardly opening parabolic wall and integral end Walls 7 for closingthe ends of theparab'olic fwall, said walls havrotation thereof. Thehead is generally larger than the} opening for the bolt and consequentlya seal isretained.

' By' viewing theyarious'figuresof the drawingsit be-fl comes apparentthat positioning of the quartz" lamp 3 6', j to its exact focus pointrelative to the-reflectorpanels may,

be done by turning/the screws, such as at 55, at opposite "ends-of thecasing 11. By'so doing the maintenance man ing a forwardly facingrectangular peripheral edge and an internal rectangular shoulderinwardly and rearwardly of the peripheral edge, said casing wallsfurther having internal rib sectionsga 'parabolic'reflector facingforwardly and lying adjacent the ribs; means fixing the reflector to theribs; end reflectors adjacent and fixed 'to the ribs on the endwallsofthe casing and having p'arabolicedgesengaging the internal curvature ofthe parabolic reflector, said endtreflectors having alined openings; apair 'of bulbcon- 'nectors disposed between the end reflectors and theend may adjust the bulb 36 :at a position rea'rward'fof the The casing10 is closed at its open end by lens structure 'which includes atempered lens 601and a supporting rim or lens frame '61'which conformssubstantially to the; f vrectangular shape of the flange 19. The rim61is pro 1 vided with a peripheral rearwardly facing edge 62 whichnormally faces and lies adjacent theforwardly facing casing 11 where hewillxb'e shielded from the intense heatof'the bulb and also whileviewing-"the eifective results of his adjustments. i

edge20 of the flange 19. 'Thejmain portion 'of the, lens 7 frame 61 isaledge lying opposite the shoulder for ledge 21 of. the casing 10 and,defining therewith a peripheral groove receiving the peripheral edge ofthe lens 60. j The casing 10-hastwo pairsof depending lugs 65, '66spaced apart to accommodate a pair of lugs 67, 68 on the lens frame 61.The lugs 65, 66, 67, 68 are hingedly interconnected topermit the lensstructure to swing open and;

shut. Atop the casing wallr11, there 'is mounted thereon a spring clip70 of a'conventional overtoenter'lock design which isv adapted to extendover therim 61 andretain the rim 61 under pressurized contact with thecasing 10;

At each corner of thecasing 10 there is cast'arearwardly' projectingboss portion 72. The purpose of the'bos's' por-,

tion 72 is to provide sufficient material at the corners to have acountersunk opening 73. Each corner of the lens 7 60 is'rounded at 75(FIGURE 7) 'andat each corner of 1 the rim 61 there is provided anexcess thickness 76 which is normally'in alignment with'the openings73-of the casing 10; A U-shaped' rubber gasket 80 with opposite legsthereoflying adjacent opposite or inner and ou'tersurfaces of thelens 60extends around the completepe-f walls of the casings and having bulbreceiving means facing therespective openings; an elongated filamentbulb disposed acrossthelamp casing substantially on theffocus axis ofthe parabolic'reflector and having opposite ends 7 extending through therespe'ctivetopenings in the 'end reflectors and supported in the bulbreceiving means;

meansmounting the connectors to said casing including tracks rigid withand internally of the 1 end walls and extendin'g for'e and aft towardthe open end of the casing,

and guideimeans on the connectors engaging the tracks to permit movementof the filament bulb toward or away fromthe open end .of the'casing;means extending through ;the main'casing connected respectively tothejguide means 1 for selectively adjusting the filament bulb relativeto the a rectangular shoulder oifset inwardly of the peripheral surface,said shoulder of saidcasing andsaid shoulder of the frame defining arectangular peripheral groove accomslits at the corners for.accommodating the clips whereby ripheral edge of the lens. The lens'60is supportedo'n 7' the rim 61 byvmeans'of cornerclips 81 which are thinplate elements partially overlyinggthe edge of' lens frame 61 andthe';inne r surfaoeof the lens-160. The clips 81 are'supported on thecorners 76 of the. rim'61 by means of screws 82. As maybe seen inFIGURES 3, 5 and 7, there is provided a slit, indicated at 83,in thegasket 80 through which the clip 81 may 'extendj-to contact directly thesurface ofthe lenst60. It will be noted'that one legportion of thegasket 80 is outward of the clip 81so that V as therirn is closed thegasket leg willsealagainst the clip 81. In the closed position. betweenjthe rim and casing it will also benoted that opening 73 accommodates fthe head of the screw 81. Also-as is- 'clearlyevidentin moisture sealcompletely around the'lens 60. The spring lock 70 maintains sufficientpressure between the 80, the lens 60, and the surrounding structure.

While onlyone form of the invention has beenshown,

it 'should'b'e recognized thatlother forms and variations will occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood thatthepresent disclosure was shown in detailed manner for the purpose orclearlyrand concisely a k s modating the peripheral edge of the lens;aYU-shaped V gasket extending around the edge of the lens with the legsthereof disposed adjacent the inner and outer surfaces respectivelyofthe'lens; corner clips adjacent each ofthe rounded corners of the lenshaving portions thereof overlying and in engagement with'th'e lenssurface and fixed to the lens frame-whereby said lens willnormally beretained on the frame, said gaskethaving ,therein'edge said clips willbe'disposed between portions of legs of 5 saidtU-shaped gasket and theinner "surface of thelens.

2, A lamp fixture comprisingi a, lamp casing opening.

forwardlyand closed by walls at'its rear and ends, said walls having'a"forwardly facing rectangular peripheral edge and an internalrectangular shoulder inwardly and rearwardly of the peripheral edge; aparabolic reflector v mounted in the casing and facing forwardly; endreflectors supported in the casing at opposite ends of the parabolicreflector'and having substantially parabolic edges engaging the internalcurvature of the parabolic reflector, said end reflectors having alinedopenings; a pair of bulb connectors disposed between the end reflectorsand the walls I V V H v j 7 fof the casings and having bulb receivingameans facing 7 FIGURE 4, the gasket 81normally rests against the rshoulder 21 and the rim 61, thereby maintaining a perfect} posed across.the lamp casing substantially on the focus illustrating the principlesofrthetinventiom'and it was not the intention to limit or narrow theinvention beyond the broad conc'eptsetforth in therappended claims.

,axis, of the parabolicreflector and having opposite ends extendingthrough the respective-openings in :the endreflectors and supported inthe bulb receiving means; means counting the connectors to said casingincluding tracks rigid with the'casing walls and extending fore and afttoward the open end of the casing,,andy guide means on theconnectorsengagingthe tracks to permit movement of tthe filarnent bulbtoward ,or away from the open endof the casingjmeans extending through,the casing connected respectively to the guide means for selectively,adjusting the filament bulb relative to the reflectors, said 5 lattermeans having adjusting elements external of the said casing and saidshoulder of the frame defining a rectangular peripheral grooveaccommodating the peripheral edge of the lens; a U-shaped gasketextending around the edge of the lens with the legs thereof disposedadjacent the inner and outer surfaces respectively of the lens; cornerclips adjacent each of rounded corners of the lens having portionsthereof overlying and in engagement with the lens surface and fixed tothe lens frame whereby said lens will normally be retained on the frame,said gasket having therein edge slits at the corners for accommodatingthe clips whereby said clips will be disposed between portions of legsof said U-shaped gasket and the inner surface of the lens.

3. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing opening forwardly and closedby walls at its rear and ends, said walls having a forward rectangularedge; rectangular lens means supported on the casing for closing theforward open side thereof; a parabolic reflector mounted in the casingand facing forwardly; end reflectors supported in the casing at oppositeends of the parabolic reflector and having substantially parabolic edgesengaging the internal curvature of the parabolic reflector, said endreflect rs having alined openings; a pair of bulb connectors disposedbetween the end reflectors and the walls of the casings and having bulbreceiving means facing the respective openings; an elongated filamentbulb disposed across the lamp casing substantially on the focus axis ofthe para bolic reflector and having opposite ends extending through therespective openings in the end reflectors and supported in the bulbreceiving means, the openings being such as to accommodate fore and aftmovement of the bulb; means mounting the connectors to said casingineluding tracks rigid with the casing walls and extending fore and afttoward the open end of the casing, and guide means on the connectorsengaging the tracks to permit movement of the filament bulb toward oraway from the open end of the casing; and means extending through thecasing walls connected respectively to the guide means for selectivelyadjusting the filament bulb relative to the reflectors, said lattermeans having adjusting elements external of the casing walls foreffecting the adjustment,

4. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing including a forwardlyopening U-shaped wall and integral end walls for closing the ends of theU-shaped wall, said U-shap-ed wall further having internal parabolicribs; a parabolic reflector facing forwardly and lying adjacent theribs; means fixing the reflector to the ribs; end reflectors adjacentand fixed to the ribs on the end walls of the casing and havingparabolic edges engaging the internal curvature of the parabolicreflector, said end reflectors having alined openings; a pair of bulbconnectors disposed between the end reflectors and the end walls of thecasings and having bulb receiving means facing the respective openings;an elongated filament bulb disposed across the casing substantially onthe focus axis of the parabolic reflector and having opposite endsextending through the respective openings in the end reflectors andsupported in the bulb receiving means, the openings being such as toaccommodate fore and aft movement of the bulb; means mounting theconnectors on said casing including tracks rigid with and internally ofthe end walls and extending fore and aft toward the open end of thecasing, and guide means on the connectors engaging the tracks to permitmovement of the filament bulb toward or away from the open end of thecasing; and means extending through the casing walls and connectedrespectively to the guide means 6 for selectively adjusting the filamentbulb relative to the reflectors, said latter means having adjustingelements external of the casing walls for effecting the adjustment.

5. A lamp fixture comprising: a lamp casing opening forwardly and havinga forwardly facing rectangular peripheral edge and an internalrectangular shoulder facing forwardly and inwardly and rearwardly of theperipheral edge; a reflector within the casing; a bulb including bulbconnector means within the casing; means mounting the connector means tosaid casing to permit movement of the bulb toward or away from thereflector, said mounting means including elements extending through thecasing wall for selectively adjusting the bulb relative to thereflector; a rectangular shaped lens having inner and outer surfaces androunded corners for closing the forward opening of the casing; arectangular shaped lens frame bordering the lens and having a peripheralsurface facing and normally in contact with the forward peripheralsurface of the casing and a rectangular shoulder offset inwardly of theperipheral surface, said shoulder of said casing and said shoulder ofthe lens frame defining a rectangular peripheral groove accommodatingthe peripheral edge of the lens; a U-shaped gasket extending around theedge of the lens with the legs thereof disposed adjacent inner and outersurfaces respectively of the lens; corner clips adjacent each of therounded corners of the lens having portions thereof overlying and inengagement with a surface of the lens and fixed to the lens framewhereby said lens will normally be fixed on the shoulder of the frame,said gasket having therein edge slits at the corners for accommodatingthe clips whereby said clips will be disposed between portions of a legof said Ushaped gasket and the inner surface of the lens.

6. A casing having a U-shaped back wall opening forwardly and end wallsand internal ribs extending inwardly from the internal face of thecasing; internal reflector means bearing against the ribs and includinga forwardly opening parabolic shaped reflector with opposite endsadjacent the end walls, and a pair of end reflectors adjacent to butspaced from the end walls; a pair of bulb connectors disposed at leastpartially in the respective spaces between the end reflectors and therespective end walls; an elongated bulb positioned substantially on thefocus axis of the parabolic reflector with opposite ends thereofsupported by and connected to the respective bulb connectors, therebeing openings in the end reflectors sufficiently large to permitmovement of the bulb and bulb connectors; means in the spacing betweenthe end reflectors and end walls mounting each bulb connector on thecasing for movement fore and aft and in respect to the forwardly openingparabolic reflector including a pair of adjusting elements extendingthrough the casing Wall and operatively connected to the respectiveadjusting means for effecting movement of the respective ends of thebulb, said elements having portions external of the casing for effectingthe movement.

7. The invention defined in claim 6 in which the casing is a completelysealed structure except for the forward opening and furthercharacterized by a lens structure closing the forward opening andsealing the casing.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 in which the adjusting elements arethreaded studs threaded through the back wall adjacent the respectiveend walls.

9. A sealed casing having a U-shaped back wall, end walls closing theends of the U-shaped Wall, and a lens structure sealing the forwardopening defined by the U-shaped and end walls; internal ribs rigid withand extending inwardly from the internal face of the U-shaped casingwall; internal reflector means bearing against the ribs and including aforwardly opening parabolic shaped reflector with opposite ends adjacentthe end walls, and a pair of end reflectors adjacent to but spaced fromthe end walls; a pair of bulb connectors in the respective spacesbetween the end reflectors and the respective end walls; an elongatedbulb positioned sl lbstanti allyxofi the V -Refe're1jces Cited inthefi1eof this patent focus axis ofthe parabolic reflector with "opposite endsvT T T E thereof supported by and cdnnectedto therespective bulb -6 1 E ga I I 3 Oct 7 connectore, therebeing openings in the/endreflectors-'sufli- E 0 7 5 j clently large to permit l'novement of thebulb axid bulb ,5 :O7O" l Buchanan n; connectors; 'and me'ar lisjnjthespacing -between the end 1 0;'83' Wymah' 0018:1929 reflec tors and endWalls mounting ea'ch bulb Iconne ctor 1,752 273 1 Lewis V 1930 on thecasing for' movement fore aiid ftin lresfiect to f'-i2,323, ')73'Netting" J un'e29', 1943 the for war'd ly opening parabolic"r'efleetofland'ihcludi g ,Q l f h g I--- A 24,1943 a Pa O adjusting nt sm through h-3 m 71 9Pfr-fi-ff l :lMa 52 -.Wall and, opelatively connected to therespective con-, 7 stmcr g 'T"''- i 1 11956 .nectors'for effectingmovement of'the'lesp'ective end's of FOREIGN ,PATENTS

6. A CASING HAVING U-SHAPED BACK WALL OPENING FORWARDLY AND END WALLSAND INTERNAL RIBS EXTENDING INWARDLY FOR THE INTERNAL FACE OF THECASING; INTERNAL REFLECTOR MEANS BEARING AGAINST THE RIBS AND INCLUDINGA FORWARDLY OPENING PARABOLIC SHAPED REFLECTOR WITH OPPOSITE ENDSADJACENT THE END WALLS, AND A PAIR OF END REFLECTORS ADJACENT TO BUTSPACED FROM THE END WALLS; A PAIR OF BULB CONNECTORS DISPOSED AT LEASTPARTIALLY IN THE RESPECTIVE SPACES BETWEEN THE END REFLECTORS AND THERESPECTIVE END WALLS; AN ELONGATED BULB POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY ON THEFOCUS AXIS OF THE PARABOLIC REFLECTOR WITH OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOFSUPPORTED BY AND CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE BULB CONNECTORS, THEREBEING OPENINGS IN THE END REFLECTORS SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO PERMITMOVEMENT OF THE BULB AND BULB CONNECTORS; MEANS IN THE SPACING BETWEENTHE END REFLECTORS AND END WALLS MOUNTING EACH BULB CONNECTOR ON THECASING FOR MOVEMENT FORE AND AFT AND IN RESPECT TO THE FORWARDLY OPENINGPARABOLIC REFLECTOR INCLUDING A PAIR OF ADJUSTING ELEMENTS EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE CASING WALL AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVEADJUSTING MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE RESPECTIVE ENDS OF THEBULB, SAID ELEMENTS HAVING PORTIONS EXTERNAL OF THE CASING FOR EFFECTINGTHE MOVEMENT.